Enjoying the Simple Pleasures in Life

The other day, I asked the women in the chat room to tell me five things that they love and are thankful for besides Jesus and family, since I knew that they would all list those as their top two things. This world wants to make us discontent with the simple and most important things in life. There’s so much ugliness in the world but there’s so much beauty, too, since God is good and He has created a beautiful world.

Our culture tells us that we need this and that to be content. We need all the newest and greatest. No, we don’t. All that sparkles and attracts aren’t what truly make us happy. It’s learning to enjoy the simple pleasure in life and being thankful to God Most High and His goodness to us.

There are women who are fighting for their marriages and/or are in difficult marriages or single mothers and some who are very ill, but they shared many things that they love and are thankful for. We must all learn to be thankful for the simple pleasures in life no matter where we are in this life or what trial we are facing. God is good and His plan for us is good. We can rest in this because we know how it all ends. It’s great!

Most of the women said they love coffee. Many love going on walks, eating good chocolate, cooking and baking healthy food, keeping their homes clean and tidy, gardening, working out, homeschooling, going to church, reading good books, eating meals with family and friends, playing board games, loving on animals, crafting, learning, being able to be a keeper at home, listening to good preaching, sunrises/sunsets, Autumn, football (“Go Chiefs!” one wrote), chatting with friends, nursing their babies, and God’s grace.

We all have so many things to be thankful for, dear women. God commands that we dwell on the true, the honest, the just, the pure, the lovely, and those things of good report (Philippians 4:8). In this turbulent world, focus upon these things and in the simple pleasures of life. Our culture aims to make you discontent and unhappy. Don’t let it. Continually be renewing your mind with God’s truths and trust Him with your lives and the lives of your family. Enjoy each day that He has given you breath and tell Him, “Thank you!”

I can tell you that if your children grow up with a thankful and joyful mother, they will have a much greater chance of walking in truth when they grown. You need to show them how wonderful Jesus is and all the blessings that abound because of Him. Always be pointing them back to Him, teaching them to renew their minds with truth, and learning to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

There are so many. My dog IS family so I can’t start with him.
*Water. It sounds silly, but I love water. I love the feel of it in the shower, washing my hands, swimming, etc.
*Nature. Hours of free and beautiful entertainment.
*Crafting. Turning nothing into something pretty…most of the time lol.
*Guacamole. It’s my answer to that old question, “if you could only take one food to a desert island…”
(I would hope my desert island has coffee beans!!)
*Reading. A whole world at my fingertips.

Thank you, Loti for encouraging us to be thankful and content with the MANY simple pleasures God has given us. I can add two things off the top of my head: cold, clean drinking water, and hot, steamy water water for showers and baths. 🙂

Beautiful reminder! Sitting here sipping my coffee with my dog next to me, happy son playing in front of me, first snow of the year on the ground, and so much peace and thankfulness in my heart that I stay home with my child and take care of the home while my husband works hard to provide for us! God’s ways are best!!

Some of the best memories my wife and I have made were either free or very low in cost; enjoying a weekend of camping at a state campground, playing a game with the kids at the dining room table, or sitting together with a fresh cup of coffee, discussing our plans for the future. God has greatly blessed us.

It’s amazing how thankful a little perspective can make you. My husband’s been questioning whether or not we should start looking for a bigger house with more property. Then he went on a business trip to The Bronx a couple of weeks ago. He came back praising God for our “large” house and “spacious” backyard.

We have so many things to be grateful for. Electricity, a furnace, a water heater, my many “servants” (dishwasher, laundry machines, coffee maker, alarm clock…), the freedom to be a homemaker and homeschooler while my husband supports us with a decent wage. We are indeed VERY blessed.

Now that our kids are grown and out of the house my daily housework has decreased a lot! When my husband gets home from work I am ALL his and I enjoy that so much. I also love when occasionally all the boys/wives are at home!

I also love spending time with my mom during the day (we live next door to my parents)

Hot bubble baths and long naps in the middle of the day

Getting to spend most all my life barefoot, I have always hated shoes with a passion, lucky I have never had to wear them very often!!